Former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has said his forthcoming autobiography is intended to clarify controversial decisions taken during his administration, particularly during the Nigerian civil war, rather than stir fresh tensions.
Gowon stated this ahead of the public presentation of the memoir, noting that the book offers his personal account of events that have largely been interpreted by others over the years.
The 881-page autobiography is scheduled for unveiling on May 19 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to attend the event as special guest of honour, while former Minister of Defence, Theophilus Danjuma, will formally unveil the book.
The event is projected to attract a cross-section of dignitaries, including political leaders, retired military officers, diplomats and top government officials.
Speaking on his motivation for writing the book, Gowon explained that numerous accounts of the civil war era had emerged over time without adequately reflecting his perspective as Nigeria’s leader at the time.
He said, “The autobiography became necessary because many accounts of the civil war era had been written from different perspectives over the years without fully reflecting my own reasoning as Nigeria’s leader at the time.
“By choosing to write, I took a conscious decision not to reopen old wounds but to clarify my thinking on policies and plans at a period often narrated by others.
“My story is one of conviction evaluated by circumstances at the crossroads of expectations and reality.”
Gowon, who led Nigeria during the 1967–1970 civil war, remains a central figure in the country’s history, with his decisions during the conflict continuing to generate debate decades after the war ended.
FOLLOW US
FOR MORE HERE
